Pho 1920

The Best Restaurants in Sacramento’s Little Saigon Neighborhood | Eater SF

"Pho 1920 is the new kid in town and it’s shaking things up. The unusual name refers to the history of pho, which is elucidated in text on the menu as having both French and Chinese roots in late 19th/early 20th century northern Vietnam. The broth is less sweet and spiced than is typical, and proudly lacking in MSG. The chef’s special beef noodle soup (as it is called on the extremely short menu, in English and Chinese characters, with no mention of the word “pho”) comes with chewy brisket only and is topped with shoestringed raw red onion and chopped cilantro leaves and stems, with choice of customary thin pho noodles or flat, fresh noodles billed as “chow fun.” The lack of depth in the broth (perhaps due to the absence of MSG) is mitigated by a dollop of housemade, tangy chili sauce, which is also sold to take home at the counter." - Becky Grunewald